12 Facts About Chester Nez

Chester Nez was an American veteran of World War II.

Chester Nez was the last surviving original Navajo code talker who served in the United States Marine Corps during the war.

Chester Nez was raised during a time of difficult relations between the US government and the Navajo Nation.

Chester Nez's mother died when he was only three years old.

Chester Nez recalled children often being taken from reservations, sent to boarding schools, and forbidden to speak the Navajo language.

At eight years old, Chester Nez was sent to a school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Chester Nez's English given name, Chester, after US president Chester A Arthur, was assigned then.

The 29 who graduated from boot camp, including Chester Nez, were then assigned to the Camp Elliot, California, where they were tasked with creating a code for secure voice tactical communications.

Chester Nez stated the developers used everyday words, in order to easily memorize and retain them.

Chester Nez was honorably discharged as a private first class in 1945 and returned to serve stateside in the Korean War from which he was discharged as a corporal.

On July 26,2001, Nez was one of the five living code talkers who received the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W Bush:.

Chester Nez died on June 4,2014, from kidney failure in Albuquerque, aged 93.